Since California is a winner-take-all state and is assured of voting "blue" every presidential election, it sort of presents a conundrum for citizens: Without moving to a swing state, you really can't have that much of an influence over who sits in the oval office. At least that's my line of thought.

But I heard a term recently and it started something turning in my brain: "fiscal conservative". Yes, there's also "social conservative" the corrollaries "fiscal liberal" and "social liberal".

Now, these are normally stuck one to another. If you vote for a fiscal conservative, for instance, you're likely to get a social conservative as well. That's a pity from what I can see.

I'm not really sure that everyone has all of the answers regarding the economy (fiscal and all that). Even if you got a bunch of the smartest economists together, they would have different ideas, so it's no surprise that ordinary folks are confused about "what to do about the economy". Most of the time, the economy goes its own way, often following some sort of sine wave. So presidents that take the credit or blame for the economy, don't really deserve it, IMHO. That's why I can't be up in arms over one economic program over another.

But I am socially liberal. I'm not too excited in seeing policies that are inspired by a reading of the Bible, even a well-informed reading of it. (That's my view of many socially conservative planks.)

Dougly, i agree with a lot of what you say .... but i think a president can kill business with his policies. The economy is recovering, but those who have the means to create jobs are hoarding money instead. this link is to an interview of Steve Wynn, but i am posting it because my brother, who is CEO of a fairly large company, has said the exact same thing. Also, the most damaging aspects of Obamacare are set to hit next year.... it's no mistake that the law was written that way.

this isn't a democrat vs republican thing. Clinton was widely seen as preferable to GW Bush on the economy. but they fear Obama, and we are in the middle of a recovery without job creation. you wanna help the middle class?

Ugly Dougly wrote:Since California is a winner-take-all state and is assured of voting "blue" every presidential election...

Bzzzt. Republican from '52 until '92, except for rejecting Goldwater; though likely blue for the near future. California's electors went with Reagan both times, and Nixon *three* times. And look at our recent Gobernadores.

And anybody elected these days is going to *profess* to be both socially and fiscally conservative.

"In further evidence that Democrats are winning the social media war, hundreds of people have taken to Twitter to "report" on a fictional event where Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has called upon satanic powers in a last ditch effort to swing the election in his favour." -- Herald Sun

Trevor Williams @ Trevannosaurus'Hand stamps for re-entry' a hooded figure by the gate cheerfully calls out. But I have no hands. Only wasps. #RomneyDeathRally

RIP Seed David @davidjritterMitt says his heart guides his campaign, but which heart? when he opened his ribs like spider legs, there were at least 3 #RomneyDeathRally

Hey I'm one of those social liberals and a fair fiscal conservative. But as a CPA who is very well read on fiscal and economics, I can tell you that the thing that is going to drive the economy isn't job creation by big business, but by entrepreneurship; people going out and creating their own jobs. The US health care system puts the sole proprietor at a disadvantage, since purchasing insurance as a one person biz is pretty difficult if you have anything considered pre existing. This will disappear under ObamaCare. As a country we are at a disadvantage because of the current employer provided system, something I rarely see discussed. Our businesses are competing worldwide with countries that have far better and less expensive systems that businesses do not pay for.

Mitt the Shit is in league with Satan as far as I'm concerned, if I believed in a religious view of Satan. IMHO the Repugs are evil, evil = satan.

pink wrote:Hey I'm one of those social liberals and a fair fiscal conservative. But as a CPA who is very well read on fiscal and economics, I can tell you that the thing that is going to drive the economy isn't job creation by big business, but by entrepreneurship; people going out and creating their own jobs. The US health care system puts the sole proprietor at a disadvantage, since purchasing insurance as a one person biz is pretty difficult if you have anything considered pre existing. This will disappear under ObamaCare. As a country we are at a disadvantage because of the current employer provided system, something I rarely see discussed. Our businesses are competing worldwide with countries that have far better and less expensive systems that businesses do not pay for.

Mitt the Shit is in league with Satan as far as I'm concerned, if I believed in a religious view of Satan. IMHO the Repugs are evil, evil = satan.

pink wrote:As a country we are at a disadvantage because of the current employer provided system, something I rarely see discussed. Our businesses are competing worldwide with countries that have far better and less expensive systems that businesses do not pay for.

I guess it's some residual from the tax code that was meant to encourage businesses to buy insurance in bulk. It skewed the whole healthcare system to employer provided insurance. It would make more sense to buy health insurance as city block, a congregation, a theme camp ... whatever. Anything but your work.

The place I work at got bought by another company, and we are aligning benefits. Some people have had the same HMO and doctor for years and LOVE it. Now, they are being forced to leave their comfort zone all because we get insurance through work. People got issues - they're pregnant, recovering from cancer, etc. This is their lives you're f#cking with. The whole thing gave me the chance to ask people why they thought our insurance should be provided through work. It's become so ingrained people really had to take a second to reflect. Most then realized it is basically BS.

The gov't is already all up in the healthcare industry as it stands. Medicare reimbursement basically sets prices for any particular service. It's so screwed up, but it has inertia. We can;t even talk about the issues because it is all so tangled up in rhetoric and posturing.

so cut out the insurance companies. If we have national healthcare, and it should be single payer (ie through taxes), there is no need to have insurance companies involved in healthcare. All that does is drive up the cost. And none of them are doctors so why should they get paid? Collect the taxes, pay the doctors and hospitals directly. No middle men.

This is the funniest thing ever (today). Okay, remember Nate Silver, uncanny statistician with his finger on the pulse of the last two elections?

Last night, campaign consultant Dan Levitan invented a new game on Twitter: Drunk Nate Silver, in which we imagine the things America's favorite statistical wizard might do when he's drunk. It's the funniest thing on Twitter right now.

Josh Fruhlinger @jfruhDrunk Nate Silver waits 20 minutes for the G train, nods silently when it arrives, walks out of the stationDave Levitan @davelevitanDrunk Nate Silver stumbles through traffic on the Jersey Turnpike, screaming out what time each driver will get home. #DrunkNateSilver

Kevin Lincoln @KTLincolnDrunk Nate Silver explaining to you why your baby will manage a Radio Shack